Brush with clamped handle

ABSTRACT

A brush with handle is provided and comprises two identical half-shells, which may be easily assembled into a wedge-shaped brush body adapted to be snapped into a longitudinal handle. Each of the half-shells bears a plurality of bristles which are inclined relative to the carrier and which are generally parallel to one another. The resulting wedge-shaped brush with handle is thus adapted for use in tight quarters, such as between the fixed seats and backs of chairs, to pick up small particles of debris which may have lodged there.

United States Patent Krusche et al.

[54] BRUSH WITH CLAMPED HANDLE [72] Inventors: Kurt Krusche, Frankfurt; Hubert Zimmermann, Mannheim, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Allstar Verbrauchsguter GmbH 8L Co. KG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany [22] Filed: May 14, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 37,198

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l5/l77 [51] Int. Cl. ..A46b 3/08 [58] Field of Search ..l5/233, 231, 235, I71, 174,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,421,171 l/l969 Tsuruzawa ..l5/l60 3,434,l76 3/1969 Cazet ..15/177 [451 Aug. 15, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8/1912 Germany ..l5/l59R 925,441 9/1947 France ..l5/ll8 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Arthur O. Klein ABSTRACT A brush with handle is provided and comprises two identical half-shells, which may be easily assembled into a wedge-shaped brush body adapted to be snapped into a longitudinal handle. Each of the halfshells bears a plurality of bristles which are inclined relative to the carrier and which are generally parallel to one another. The resulting wedge-shaped brush with handle is thus adapted for use in tight quarters, such as between the fixed seats and backs of chairs, to pick up small particles of debris which may have lodged there.

1 Clalns, 7 Drawing Figures BRUSH WITII CLAMPED HANDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a brush with handle which is adapted to pick up debris in hard-to-reach places. More specifically, the present invention relates to a brush with a longitudinal handle which may be cheaply manufacturedand assembled, and which comprises fungible half-shells which may be snapped together to form a wedge-shaped brush body, and which are adapted to hold elements bearing parellely inclined bristles which serve to trap and entrain particles of debris.

2. Description of the Prior Art Most known brushes with handles have a flat brushing element which is attached, for example by gluing, to the surface of one end-section of the handle and is generally in the form of a relatively hard pad. In other brushes with handles taught in the prior art, the brushing element, again usually glued in place, surrounds the entire surface of one of the end sections of the handle.

With the prior art brushes described above, it is difficult or impossible to brush adjacent textile surfaces for example as found in chairs, sofas, automobile seats, and the like, which have fixed seats and backs, since the brush cannot be introduced into narrow spaces.

Moreover, while it is known in the art that brushes with parallely inclined bristles provide a special advantage in cleaning textile surfaces since small particles of dust, hair, fluff, etc., are loosened thereby, and swept into and trapped in the spaces between the bristles, the brushes of the prior art employing such a .bristle arrangement are not suitable for use in brushing adjacent surfaces and have other inherent disadvantages. A brush having inclined bristles can be used only in a single direction, for if the brush is moved in the opposite direction particles of dirt held in the spaces between the sloping bristles are released and they drop out.

Thus, a sloping bristled brush with a fiat brushing element must be provided with some indication of the proper direction for its use (e.g., an arrow) and to brush adjacent surfaces therewith it is necessary to make two passes, one for each surface, in opposite directions. Moreover, the user must either pull the brush towards himself on one pass, or switch hands after the first pass, either of which procedures represents a significant inconvenience to the user.

Furthermore, the handled brushes of the prior art are generally expensive to manufacture due to the difficulties encountered in their assembly. Assembly of known brushes generally requires three steps, namely: (1) the assembly of the brushing element; (2) the attachment of the bristle carrier to this element, usually by gluing; and (3) the securing of the element-carrier combination to the handle. It should be noted that the second step, and usually the final step, requires substantial time to complete, and therefore interferes with the high-speed production line assembly of the prior art brushes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the subject invention, a brush with handle is provided whose assembly involves only two steps, which comprise, respectively, merely the snapping together of preformed parts. These parts are constructed in such a manner that their combination results in a generally wedge-shaped, double-sided brush body which is attached at one end of longitudinal handle, and the brush of the present invention is therefore particularly well suited for use in relatively narrow spaces, for example, to clean adjacent textile surfaces.

To form the double-sided, wedge-shaped brush body, two identical half-shells, preferably formed of a suitable plastic, are provided. Each of said half-shells is generally rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, and its lateral and bottom edges are turned-in so as to form generally right angles with the body of said half-shell. The turned-in lateral edges taper from top to bottom so that when two half-shells are assembled into a brush body, a generally wedge-shaped structure results, with the tip of the wedge corresponding to the bottom edges of the combined halfshells.

Equally spaced about the turned-in lateral and bottom edges of each half-shell are mating means comprising a series of teeth which project at generally right angles to the body of each half-shell. These teeth on the lateral and bottom edges are disposed in such a manner that they are offset relative to the transverse and lon- 5 gitudinal axes of the half-shell body, respectively, so

that the teeth on one half-shell will fit into the recesses between the teeth on another half-shell when any two shells areassembled with their outer edges in alignment to form the wedge-shaped brush body, in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

Brushing elements, adapted to be carried by each of said half-shells are provided, and comprise carriers beating bristles made of fibers, velvet, plush, synthetic filaments, hairs, etc. Said carriers can be made of any suitable flexible material and have the same general configuration as the bodies of the identical half-shells, but the carriers are substantially larger in area than the half-shell bodies so that the outer edges of the carriers form flaps which may be rolled-over the turned-in lateral and lower edges of the half-shells (and over their upper edges), and will extend past the teeth projecting therefrom. Each of the brushing elements further comprises a resilient pad, preferrably formed of a suitable foamed material, which is disposed between the exterior surface of the half-shell and its corresponding bristle carrier to improve the cleaning capability of the brush.

In addition to the interlocking or meshing teeth, described above, the half-shell mating means further comprise structures provided on the half-shells to lock said half-shells in their assembled position. Projecting from the side of the half-shell from which the teeth on its lateral and lower edges extend are hooked projections, which comprise dowels having a portion of their bodies, adjacent their ends away from the half-shell body, cut away to provide a generally downwardly projecting hook. These dowels may be integral with the half-shell to which they are connected and are preferrably constructed of a plastic which will deform slightly without fracturing.

Apertures adapted to accept and lock said dowels are also provided in each of the half-shell bodies. These apertures conform generally to the shape of the dowels but are slightly larger in area than the dowels and are provided with a chamfered lower lip so that when a dowel is inserted into an aperture the dowel will be slightly deformed upwardly, and then its hook portion will snap over said lip and lock in place.

In the preferred practice of the present invention, each half-shell is provided with three dowels and three apertures which are positioned so that the dowels on any one half-shell align with the apertures on any other half-shell when the edges of two half-shells are aligned (i.e., when the teeth on their respectiveedges are enmeshed) incident to their assembly into a wedgeshaped brush body. Moreover, the dowels are of a chosen length so that the wedge shape of the brush body is maintained when they are secured in the apertures of an opposing half-shell; that is, the dowels located nearer the top of a half-shell are longer than those adjacent its bottom so that the tip, or leading edge of the wedge, will be at the bottom of the assembled half-shells.

In accordance with the above, the assembly of the described elements into a wedge-shaped brush body is a very simple matter. Any two of the identical halfshells may be taken from stock, and a resilient pad laid over the surface of each which does not have the above-described dowels and teeth projecting therefrom. Next, the bristle-bearing flexible carriers are laid over the pads, and the flaps on the carriers are turned-over the turned-in edges of half-shells. With the brushing elements thus in place, the half-shells are then fitted together with the brushing elements outermost, and with their lower edges aligned so that the teeth along these edges intermesh and thus form a hinge for use in furtherance of the assembly process. Using this hinge, the two half-shells are pushed toward one another until the hooked dowels in one are received and locked in the apertures of the other. When this is completed the teeth along the lateral edges of both shells will also intermesh, and a substantially wedgeshaped brush body is formed.

It is important to note that the assembly process described above does not require a separate step comprising the securing of the brushing elements to the brush body. In accordance with the subject invention, the bristle carriers are automatically and securely fastened to the respective half-shells upon the assembly of any two of the latter elements into the wedge-shaped body. Since the carrier flaps overlap the toothed lower and lateral edges of the half-shells, as the teeth on these edges intermesh upon assembly, they engage and firmly grip the carriers between them. Thus, in accordance with the subject invention, no lengthy gluing step or use of separate securing means need be utilized.

With the brushing elements fixed in place on the exterior surfaces of the assembled wedge-shaped brush body, the body is easily attached to the longitudinal handle in accordance with the subject invention. The handle, preferrably formed of a rigid plastic, is hollow at one end and adapted to accept the assembled brush within its recess. The balance of the handle is of a suitable shape and size to be conveniently held in either hand by the user.

At the hollow end of the handle, securing means are provided to fasten the brush securely thereto. Attached to the handle, and projecting downwardly from the recess within it, are generally vertical forked clips, which form a part of said securing means. Each of these clips is fashioned from a suitable plastic material, which will deform slightly without fracturing, and each clip comprises two generally vertical legs, each of which has a generally horizontal foot portion which projects toward the interior of the handle. These feet are adapted to pass through apertures provided in substantially horizontal webs, attached to the interior of each half-shell, and to snap under said webs to secure the half-shells to the handle. The inwardmost edges of the feet of the clips are charnfered, so that the upper end of the wedge-shaped brush is inserted into the recess in the handle, these edges contact the upper surfaces of the webs on the respective half-,shells, and the legs of the clip are deformed outwardly so as to spread slightly apart. After the feet have passed through the apertures in webs and have cleared its lower surface, they snap back under the web into their normal configuration, thus locking beneath the web and securing the brush firmly in place. In this position, the upper edges of the brush body are recessed within the hollow of the handle. Furthermore, the clips are designed to extend transversely across the entire width of the hollow handle and thus provide additional stifiening and support.

The securing means for attaching the brush to the handle further comprise the teeth along the upper edges of the half-shells, which are adapted to enter recesses between opposing teeth which are provided on the underside of the handle. These teeth on the upper edge of the half-shells are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis of the half-shells (as opposed to the teeth on the lower and lateral edges which are arranged asymmetrically with regard to this axis) so that any half-shell can be attached to the handle, regardless of the side of the brush on which it is employed. This portion of the securing means further serves to fasten the upper edge of the bristle carrier to the brush body. The flap on the upper edge of each carrier is turned over the corresponding edge of the halfshell and is caught between the teeth along the upper edge of the half-shell and those on the handle, when the brush body and handle are assembled, as described above.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the subject invention provides a brush with handle that is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be simply and quickly assembled and therefore is particularly well suited to be produced by assembly-line techniques. Moreover, the combination of its wedge shape and longitudinal handle suggests the use for which it is particularly suited, namely, cleaning in narrow spaces and of adjacent surfaces such as the fixed sides and backs of chairs, sofas, automobile seats, etc. With regard to this specific use, increased advantages are represented by a brush, in accordance with the subject invention, in which the bristles are all parallely inclined with respect to their carriers. The present invention additionally comprises this feature.

It is known that brushes with sloping bristles loosen even very small particles of debris and sweep them into the spaces between the bristles. It is also known that sloping bristled brushes can only be used in one direction, i.e., against the incline of the bristles. In accordance with the subject invention, the carriers are all mounted on the half-shells in a manner so that the bristles they bear are inclined toward the bottom of the half-shells. When the half-shells are then assembled into the wedge-shaped brush, the proper direction of use becomes the direction toward the lower end of the brush which corresponds to the narrow edge of the wedge. This direction remains constant, and there is no need to indicate same by means of arrows, etc., since it is natural to use the brush in narrow spaces with its narrow end foremost. Thus, the user need always move the brush only with the tip of the wedge-shaped brush body forward, regardless of which hand he is using.

In accordance with the subject invention, therefore, there is no need to make two passes to sweep adjacent surfaces, and no need to switch hands, or to push the brush. For use in an horizontal space between adjacent surfaces, the brush may be inserted perpendicularly and then moved in the direction of its wedge-shaped tip. With the above-described bristle configuration and brush construction, excellent cleaning of the adjacent surfaces is effected with maximum convenience to the user of the subject invention.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide a brush with handle in which the brush is wedge-shaped and is particularly adapted for cleaning in narrow spaces, such as between adjacent textile surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wedge-shaped brush with handle which comprises inexpensive and fungible plastic parts which may be snapped together for easy and rapid assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wedge-shaped brush with handle in which the means utilized to secure the brushing elements to the brush body are integral with the latter, and therefore the need for separate means and/or an additional assembly step to secure these parts is eliminated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a wedge'shaped brush with handle which may be inexpensively and rapidly assembled on a production line.

A yet further object of the subject invention is to provide a wedge-shaped brush with handle employing sloping bristles, which is particularly effective in cleaning adjacent textile surfaces on one pass thereof, regardless of which hand is employed by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a right side elevation view of a brush with handle in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the brush with handle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the handle employed in the brush with handle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the brush with handle, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the brush with handle, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a right-side perspective view of a half-shell forming a part of the brush body utilized in the brush with handle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a left-side elevational view of the assembled brush body of the brush with handle of the present invention, shown without the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The brush with handle 12 of the present invention comprises a generally wedge-shape brush body 14, which is attached to one end of a longitudinal handle 16. The particular construction of the brush with handle 12 of the present invention permits inexpensive construction of the elements which it comprises, and ease and speed in assembling these elements into the finished device. The brush 12 is particularly well suited for use in narrow spaces and being doubled-sided is specifically adapted for use in cleaning adjacent textile surfaces, such as the fixed seats and backs of chairs, sofas, and automobile seats.

The double-sided and generally wedge-shaped brush body 14 comprises two identical half-shells 18, which are preferrably formed of a suitable rigid plastic. In their utilization in the device of the present invention, half-shells 18 are fungible, i.e., any two half-shells may be taken from stock and assembled into brush body 14. It is readily apparent that this feature of the subject invention results in great savings of time and money with regard to the manufacture of the half-shells l8, and in respect of the assembly of same to form brush body 14.

As best seen in FIG. 6, each half-shell comprises a generally rectangular or trapezoidal body 20 having its lateral sides 22 and bottom edge 24 turned in so as to form generally right angles with body 20. Lateral edges 22 taper from top to bottom (FIGS. 6 and 7) so that when two half-shells 18 are assembled into brush body 14 (in a manner to be explained hereinafter), with their lateral edges 22 in contact, a generally wedge-shaped configuration is provided (FIG. 7), with the tip 26 or narrow end of the wedge 26 comprising the bottom edges 24 of the respective half-shells l8.

Mating means 27 are provided on each of the identical half-shells l8 and are adapted so that any two halfshells may be firmly secured to one another to form brush body 14. Mating means 27 comprise a series of teeth 28 which are spaced along lateral edges 22 and bottom edge 24 of each half-shell 18. Teeth 28 project at generally a right angle from the plane of the halfshell body 20. The teeth along lateral edges 22 and along bottom edge 24 of half-shell 18 are disposed asymmetrically with respect to the transverse and longitudinal axes, respectively, of half-shell body 20 so that when two half-shells 18 are fitted together to form brush body 14, teeth 28 on one half-shell will fit into the recesses between teeth 28 on the other half-shell, as best seen in FIG. 7.

Again referring to FIG.- 6, mating means 27 further comprise several hooked projections 30 which are attached to the same side of half-shell body 20 as that from which teeth 28 project. Hooked projections 30 can be formed integral with half-shell body 20 and are preferrably constructed of a suitable plastic, so that said projections will deform slightly without fracturing, and comprise generally cylindrical dowels 32 which extend at substantially right angles from half-shell body 20. A portion of each dowel 32 is cut away adjacent its end away from half-shell body 20, so that a generally vertically disposed hook 34 is formed at that end. Hook 34 projects downwardly and has a chamfered lower lip 36 (FIG. 5) designed to firmly secure two half-shells 18 together in a relationship wherein they form a generally wedge-shaped brush body 14.

Mating means 27 further comprise apertures 38 in half-shell body 20 which are adapted to receive and secure hooks 34 on an opposing half-shell l8. Apertures 38 correspond in number to the number of dowels 32 on each half-shell (three each of dowels 32 and apertures 38 are provided on each half-shell 18 in accordance with the preferred practice of the present invention) and are positioned so as to align with dowels 32 on another half-shell 18 when said half-shells are in contact with their respective lateral edges 22 and bottom edges 24 in correspondence. Thus, when two fungible half-shells 18 are assembled to form a brush body 14, dowels 32 on one half-shell align with the apertures 38 on the other half-shell, and vice-versa. Each aperture 38 has a chamfered offset portion or lip 40 (FIG. 6), which is adapted to snap-under lower lips 36 on dowels 32 of the opposite half-shell 18. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 5, when two half-shells are aligned and forced together, the chamfered offset lip 40 of aperture 38 engages lower lip 36 on the corresponding dowel 32 and causes the dowel to slightly deform in an upward direction. After lower lip 36 has passed chamfered offset portion 40, dowel 32 resumes its normal configuration and its hook 34 snaps over lip 40 on aperture 38 and is locked in this position.

In the assembly process described above, lower edges 24 of half-shells 18 serve as a hinge about which the half-shell bodies 20 are rotated, towards each other, until hooks 34 and apertures 38 assume their locking relationship. That is, incident to the assembly of brush body 14, any two half-shells 18 are taken from stock, and teeth 28 along their respective bottom edges 24 are intermeshed. Half-shell bodies 20 are then simply forced together until teeth 28 along their lateral edges 22 also intermesh, and hooks 34 snap over offset portions 40 on apertures 38. Half-shells 18 are so constructed that when they are combined as described above, the taper of their respective lateral edges 22 and their dowels 32 serve to maintain said half-shells in a generally wedge-shaped relationship with the tip 26 of the resulting wedge-shaped body 14 corresponding to the lower mated edges 24 of half-shells 18 (FIGS. and 7).

In accordance with the present invention, brush body 14 is adapted to have brushing elements 42 disposed on each of its broad opposing exterior surfaces so as to form a generally double-sided, wedgeshaped brush. Brushing elements 42 comprise a carrier 44 (FIG. 5) made from a suitable flexible textile, synthetic, or natural material. Carriers 44 are adapted to bear bristles 46 which can be made of fibers, velvet, plush, synthetic filaments, hairs, etc., and bristles 46 are arranged on carriers 44 in such a manner (to be described hereinafter) that the brush with handle of the present invention provides an extremely effective cleaning device.

Carriers 44 conform generally to the shape of halfshell bodies (i.e., trapezoidal or rectangular), but are larger in area than half-shell bodies 20 so that the outer edges of the carriers 44 form flaps 48 (FIG. 5) which are adapted to be tumed-over the edges of halfshells 18, so that carriers 44 can be secured to the halfshells in a manner to be described hereinafter. Disposed between carrier 44 and the half-shell 18 to which it is attached are resilient pads 50, preferrably formed of a suitable foamed material, which are adapted to give shape to brush body 14 and to improve the cleaning effectiveness of brushing elements 42.

Having described the various elements which form wedge-shaped brush body 14, it should be noted that these elements are fungible and thus may merely be selected from a stock thereof for the assembly of the brush with handle 12 of the subject invention. Moreover, in accordance with the above, the assembly of the described elements is a very simple matter. Any two of the identical half-shells 18 are taken from stock and resilient pads 50 are placed in position on their exterior surfaces 52. Next, bristle carriers 44 are laid over pads 50 and flaps 48 on carriers 44 are tumed-over lateral edges 22, outer edges 24, and top edges 25 of half-shell 18 so that the flaps 48 cover teeth 28 disposed about the periphery of each of the half-shells 18. With the brushing elements 42 now in place, the two half-shells 18 are fitted together so that their bottom edges 24 are aligned with teeth 28 disposed on their respective bottom edges 24 intermeshed.

This interrneshing along bottom edges 24 serves as a hinge for the completion of the assembly of the brush body 14 and also serves to lock bottom flaps 48 of carrier 44 in place, as said flaps are caught between the teeth 28 on these edges of the half-shells (FIG. 5). Using intermeshed bottom edges 24 as a hinge, halfshell bodies 20 are then rotated toward one another until hooked projections 30 on each half-shell 18 lock into the corresponding apertures 38 on the opposite half-shell. As this operation is completed, lateral flaps 48 of carriers 44 are locked between the interrneshing teeth 28 disposed on lateral edges 22 of the respective v half-shells 18.

It is readily apparent that the procedure by which the elements forming the subject invention can be assembled permits rapid and inexpensive construction of the brush with handle 12 of the present invention and is particularly well suited to production line processes. Moreover, in accordance with the subject invention, brushing elements 42 are automatically and securely fastened to half-shells 18 during assembly, and thus the need for a gluing step, which obviously takes a long time to complete, or for separate securing means adapted to hold the brushing elements is eliminated.

The simple above-described assembly of the elements of the present invention results in generally wedge-shaped brush body 14 having brushing elements 42 disposed on each of its opposing broad surfaces. Moreover, because of the structure of the longitudinal handle 16, in accordance with the subject invention, the step comprising the assembly of brush body 14 and said handle is also a very simple matter. Handle 16, which is preferrably constructed of a suitable rigid plastic, comprises a first end 54 which is designed so that it can be conveniently held in either hand of a user of the present invention. The opposite end 56 of handle 16 is hollow, being provided with a recess 58 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which open downwardly. Recess 58 is adapted to receive upper edges 25 of half-shells 18. Lower edges 60 of recess 58 are arched upwardly, as are upper edges 25 of half-shells l8. Edges 60 and 25 are adapted to mate, in a manner to be described hereinafter, to secure brush body 14 to handle 16.

Attached to end 56 of handle 16 are securing means 62 which are adapted to securely fasten brush body 14 to handle 16. Securing means 62 comprise two identical, generally forked clips 64 which extend transversely across the entire width of handle 16 within the recess 58. Clips 64 are formed of a suitable plastic and may be integral with handle 16. Clips 64 are disposed in vertical planes, and their lower ends comprise two legs 66 which extend downward below the bottom edge 60 of handle 16 (FIG. Each leg 66 has, at its end away from handle 16, an offset foot 68 which projects inwardly, toward the central longitudinal axis of handle 16. Thus, on each leg 66 of clip 64 a generally horizontal, upward facing step 70 is provided. The inwardmost edges 72 offeet 68 are charnfered so that when they come in contact with an obstruction, legs 66 of clip 64 will be deformed slightly outwardly.

Clips 64 are adapted to snap into elements forming part of securing means 62, in brush body 14. These latter securing means 62 comprise a generally horizontal web 74 located on the interior surface of each halfshell body 20, and extending at generally a right angle thereto toward the interior of brush body 14 (FIGS. 4 and 6). In each of the webs 74, two apertures 76 are provided and are positioned in such a manner that one leg 66 of each clip 64 will project downwardly therethrough when brush body 14 and handle 16 are assembled. Thus, when assembled brush body 14 is inserted into recess 58in handle 16, each innermost edge 72 of a foot 68 will contact the portion of the edge of web 74 adjacent corresponding aperture 76, and because edge 72 is chamfered, the corresponding leg 66 of clip 64 will be deformed slightly outwardly. This slight deformation permits foot 68 to descend through aperture 76 as the brush body 14 is inserted further into recess 58. As upper edges on half-shells 18 contact lower edge 60 of handle 16, horizontal step 70 on each foot 68 of each clip 64 passes the lower edge of corresponding web 74, and legs 66 snap back to their original configuration. Thus, horizontal step 70 on each foot 68 snaps under the lower edge of web 74 (FIG. 5) and brush body 14 is securely fastened to handle 16.

Since clips 64 extend transversely across the entire recess 58, these clips also serve to stiffen the handle 16 and make the brush with handle 12 of the present invention a more durable device.

Securing means 62 for attaching the brush body 14 to handle 16 additionally comprise teeth 28 which project generally upwardly along the upper edges 25 of half-shells 18. As best seen in the exploded portion of FIG. 5, these teeth 28 are adapted to intermesh with teeth disposed along the lower edge 60 of handle 16. Teeth 28 on edge 25 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the transverse axis of half-shell body 20, so that any half-shell 18 will mesh with the teeth in handle 16, regardless of the side of brush body 14 on which it is utilized. In addition to securing brush body l4'and handle 16, the portion of the securing means described last above also fastens the upper edges of carrier 44 in place. As seen in FIG. 5, flaps 48 on the upper edges of carrier 44 are rolled-over upper edge 25 of half-shell 18 so that when the teeth along upper edge 25 mesh with those along edge 60 of handle 16, the upper flaps 48 are caught therebetween.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that in accordance with the subject invention a brush with handle 12 is provided that is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be simply and quickly assembled and therefore is particularly well suited to be produced by assembly-line techniques. Moreover, the combination of its wedge-shaped brush body 14 and longitudinal handle 16 suggests the use for which it is particularly adapted, namely, cleaning in narrow spaces and of adjacent surfaces such as the fixed sides and backs of chairs, sofas, automobile seats, etc. With regard to this specific use, increased advantages are represented by a brush 12, in accordance with the subject invention, in which bristles 46 are all parallel and are inclined (FIG. 5) with regard to their respective carriers.

In accordance with this feature of the subject invention,the carriers 44 are mounted on the half-shells 18 so that the bristles 46 they bear are inclined toward the bottom edges 24 of the half-shell 18 (FIG. 5). When the halfishells are then assembled into the wedgeshaped brush body 14, the proper direction of use becomes the direction toward tip 26 of the wedge. This direction remains constant, and there is no need to indicate same by means of arrows, etc., since it is natural to use the brush in narrow spaces with its narrow end 26 foremost. Thus, the user need always only move the brush with the tip 26 of the wedge-shaped brush body 14 forward, regardless of which hand he is using. In accordance with the subject invention, therefore, there is no need to make two passes to sweep adjacent surfaces and no need to switch hands or push the brush. For usein an horizontal space between adjacent surfaces, the brush may be inserted perpendicularly and then moved toward its tip 26. In any event, with this bristle configuration and brush construction, excellent cleaning of the adjacent surfaces is effected with maximum convenience to the user of the subject invention.

Those skilled in the'art will appreciate that the arrangements taught herein are merely exemplary of the preferred practice of the subject invention and that additional changes, modifications, and variations may be made in the arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A brush comprising:

a longitudinal handle;

a wedge-shaped brush body which comprises two half-shells and mating means attached to each of said half-shells, adapted to secure said half-shells to one another so that their respective planes are at an angle relative to one another to form a wedge-shaped brush body;

securing means attached to said handle, adapted to fixedly connect said wedge-shaped brush body along its broad edge to said handle; and

a brushing element attached to each of the two opposing inclined sides of said brush body.

2. A brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mating means comprise:

a series of teeth spaced about the periphery of each of said half-shells, the teeth along the lateral and bottom surfaces of one half-shell being adapted to mesh with the teeth on the corresponding edges of the other half-shell and;

at least one hooked projection extending from the interior surface of each of said half-shells, and at least one aperture in each of said half-shells positioned to align with said hooked projection on the opposite half-shell, and to accept and lock said hooked projection,

whereby said half-shells may be assembled into a wedge-shaped brush body.

3. A brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprise a series of recesses on the underside of said longitudinal handle, and at least one clip attached to said handle and extending downwardly therefrom, and wherein the upper edges of said halfshells are provided with teeth adapted to mesh with said recesses, and said half-shells are provided with a member adapted to receive and lock said clip,

whereby said half-shells may be secured to said longitudinal handle.

4. A brush as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said brushing elements comprises a flexible carrier bearing a plurality of bristles, and wherein the teeth spaced about the periphery on said half-shells are adapted to engage said carriers and to secure said carriers to said half-shells.

5. A brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bristles on each of said carriers are inclined relative to said carrier, and the bristles on each of said carriers are generally parallel to one another.

6. A brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hooked projection comprises a generally horizontally disposed dowel, extending inwardly from the interior surface of said half-shell, and having a portion of its body cut away, adjacent its end away from said halfshell, to form a hook, and wherein said aperture has an offset lip portion adapted to snap over said hook, to secure said half-shells one to the other.

7. A brush as claimed in claim 6, wherein said halfshells are generally rectangular in shape and are positioned so that their longitudinal axes are parallel to said handle, and wherein the lower edges of said half-shells are in contact, and the upper edges are connected to outer longitudinal edges of the handle so that said halfshells form a wedge, and wherein said dowel is positioned intermediate the lower and upper edges of said half-shells and is of suitable length to maintain said half-shells in a wedge-shaped relationship. 

1. A brush comprising: a longitudinal handle; a wedge-shaped brush body which comprises two half-shells and mating means attached to each of said half-shells, adapted to secure said half-shells to one another so that their respective planes are at an angle relative to one another to form a wedgeshaped brush body; securing means attached to said handle, adapted to fixedly connect said wedge-shaped brush body along its broad edge to said handle; and a brushing element attached to each of the two opposing inclined sides of said brush body.
 2. A brush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mating means comprise: a series of teeth spaced about the periphery of each of said half-shells, the teeth along the lateral and bottom surfaces of one half-shell being adapted to mesh with the teeth on the corresponding edges of the other half-shell and; at least one hooked projection extending from the interior surface of each of said half-shells, and at least one aperture in each of said half-shells positioned to align with said hooked projection on the opposite half-shell, and to accept and lock said hooked projection, whereby said half-shells may be assembled into a wedge-shaped brush body.
 3. A brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprise a series of recesses on the underside of said longitudinal handle, and at least one clip attached to said handle and extending downwardly therefrom, and wherein the upper edges of said half-shells are provided with teeth adapted to mesh with said recesses, and said half-shells are provided with a member adapted to receive and lock said clip, whereby said half-shells may be secured to said longitudinal handle.
 4. A brush as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said brushing elements comprises a flexible carrier bearing a plurality of bristles, and wherein the teeth spaced about the periphery on said half-shells are adapted to engage said carriers and to secure said carriers to said half-shells.
 5. A brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bristles on each of said carriers are inclined relative to said carrier, and the bristles on each of said carriers are generally parallel to one another.
 6. A brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hooked projection comprises a generally horizontally disposed dowel, extending inwardly from the interior surface of said half-shell, and having a portion of its body cut away, adjacent its end away from said half-shell, tO form a hook, and wherein said aperture has an offset lip portion adapted to snap over said hook, to secure said half-shells one to the other.
 7. A brush as claimed in claim 6, wherein said half-shells are generally rectangular in shape and are positioned so that their longitudinal axes are parallel to said handle, and wherein the lower edges of said half-shells are in contact, and the upper edges are connected to outer longitudinal edges of the handle so that said half-shells form a wedge, and wherein said dowel is positioned intermediate the lower and upper edges of said half-shells and is of suitable length to maintain said half-shells in a wedge-shaped relationship. 